The Charlestown Coderdojo club is starting up again on Saturday April 16th in St.Attracta’s N.S. ( 10 a.m. to 12 noon.)

We would like to remind parents that you MUST stay for the duration of the session if your child is under 10 years of age or has no experience using computers.

To find out more detailed information on the club please read our introduction for parents here: Codordojo Charlestown

To book your ticket please register and book using Eventbrite at the following location: http://bit.ly/ctowndojotix

What an honour it was for us all to be part of the ‘Proclamation Day 2016’ commemorating and remembering the events of Easter one hundred years before. This really was a once in a generation occasion for our school community; pupils, parents and teachers- where we all felt we were part of history.

This event was one of the major highlights of the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme and followed the ‘Flags for Schools’ initiative which we all very much enjoyed earlier in our school year.

Our ceremony began with a special reading of the 1916 Proclamation before we read our school’s own Proclamation for a new generation. Our Senior students had worked very hard in the previous weeks exploring what they felt should be included in their vision for Ireland and can be very proud of the fruits of their labour.

We then played and sang ‘Amhrán na bhFiann’ before our tricolour was raised by Fr.Johnston, all to the moving sounds of Ms.Connaghan and her brother Kieran playing the pipes.

We really appreciate and thank all who helped with today’s ceremony. Míle buíochas to Fr.Johnston for his lovely words to all assembled, Ms.Connaghan and her brother Kieran who added so much to this special event, Ms.Henry for all her hard work behind the scenes and to all our Parents/Guardians who came to support us. We really appreciated your presence in such great numbers.

Finally thank you to all the boys and girls in our school. You each entered into the Centenary Programme’s events with great respect, interest and enthusiasm. This was a fitting tribute to our ancestors and those who have gone before and made Ireland the country it is today.

Just a short reminder that our Enrolment Afternoon will take place this coming Wednesday March 9th at 2pm here in our Junior Infant Classroom.

Enrolment forms are available by calling our school secretary, Geraldine, at 094-9254905 in the school office,by email at office@stattractasns.ie or alternatively you can download a copy of our enrolment application from the homepage of our website (www.stattractasns.ie). Copies will also be available on the day.

We are very much looking forward to meeting you and our new students for the coming school year.

The results came through to us this evening of the Féile Scoldramaíochta Chonnachta which Rang 3 agus Rang 4 participated in earlier this week.

We are very proud of all the children who took part in An Píobaire Hamelin agus Rumplestelskin. We also want to thank all the families for their support and understanding during the last few weeks.

Unfortunately neither of the Dramas have progressed to the National finals. The standard was extremely high and we were praised for our excellent acting abilities. The adjudicator as we alluded earlier this week also praised our artwork, props and costumes. Special mention goes to Mrs Helen McCafferty and her son Joseph for the time and effort they put into our set design.

We were given some great tips on how to improve next year and we will work on getting to the next level. The children enjoyed the experience and have made huge progress in many areas not lease with their ‘gaeilge’. We are already looking forward to next year!

Finally a special thank you to our wonderful ‘Muinteoirí’ who prepared, supported and encouraged our students through it all. We very much appreciate their hard work and interest. Go raibh mile maith agaibh.

Bainigí taitneamh as an deireadh seachtaine.

Recently in Fourth class we were busy making 3D constructions out of recycled materials. We made models of our “Dream Bedroom”.

Firstly we had to bring in a shoe box. The size didn’t really matter as long as it was big enough for what we wanted to put into it. Ms. Henry told us to draw up a plan of what we wanted our bedrooms to look like so we had a design to work from. At home we gathered different recycled materials which we wanted to use. For example some people brought in match boxes and medicine boxes, fruit and veg nets, old t-shirts, a piece of carpet cut to size, stickers and even some play house furniture. This was where we showed our creativity.

In school we then decided if we wanted doors and windows and cut these out. We then proceeded to paint the inside of the shoe boxes in whatever colours we wanted in our rooms. As they were drying we made the furniture for the room. Some people made lamps out of tooth picks, sweet wrappers and blue tack. Others made curtains and lovely bedclothes for their beds from old socks and t – shirts. Others had sweet machines, drum kits and baths in their rooms. When the shoe box was dry we assembled our rooms and put the final touches to them.
They turned out really well and we were very proud of them.

We decided to have an exhibition in the school hall where every class got to go and have a look at them. We got lots of lovely feedback from everyone. Here are some photos of some of our masterpieces.

Hope you enjoy them as much as we enjoyed making them!! ☺

By Jessica Casey and Michaela O’Hehir

Comhghairdeachas and well done to Conor McArdle (U11 Boys) and Amy Mahon (U13 Girls) of our Fifth and Sixth Classes who on Saturday participated in the Mayo Cumann na mBunscol Handball Final’s at ‘An Sportlann’ McHale Park Castlebar.

Both students are committed members of the local club here in Charlestown and continue to make huge strides. On Saturday they both played very well against talented opposition. Amy was particularly unlucky losing in her U13 final having progressed well through the qualifying stages.

We are very proud of Conor and Amy, well done, maith sibh!

Another busy week here in St.Attracta’s culminating in the Mayo Spikeball Blitz this morning and a lovely assembly this afternoon.

As always it really was a pleasure to hear the lovely comments from all the teachers about the students chosen for this week.

Hard work, enthusiastic attitudes and greater confidence were common themes throughout, alongside an eagerness to do very well and a willingness to go that extra mile with their homework.
As in previous weeks students have made great improvements. Some with their handwriting and others with their behaviour and application. Others are always so helpful, reliable and above all so kind to others- a comment we were delighted to hear. Well done to all who were rewarded this week, keep up this great work!

This week we felt it would be most unfair to select any individual as our chosen ‘Students of the Week’. It was decided that all our students would be rewarded as a small thank you from all of the teachers who recognise all the great work and effort from all of the children throughout our school.

Well done everyone, we’re very proud of you all! Maith sibh, bhí sibh go léir ar fheabhas!